Rinsing CDI furler

[tclC-18]

I have bought a boat with a CDI FF1 jib roller-furler, and I understand that no maintenace of the furler is required other than every few years rinse the main nylon bearing in the furler drum. I have read that this only takes 5 minutes and can be done with out taking down the jib. Darned if I can figure out how, though. Can anyone enlighten me about exactly what steps to perform?

Thanks.

 

[agprice22]

You will have to lift the foil as high as it will go on the forestay. Clamp it off with vicegrips on the forestay. It unscrews from the lower shackle under the drum. Lift the drum, and you can get to the bearing. Now you clean/lube it.
Now: why?
I have not needed to do this... Ever.
And I have owned several CDI furlers.
Number one consideration: toggle at the masthead on the forestay.
Could a bend in the forestay be hindering the furler?

Thanks
Andrew

 

[tclC-18]

You will have to lift the foil as high as it will go on the forestay. Clamp it off with vicegrips on the forestay. It unscrews from the lower shackle under the drum. Lift the drum, and you can get to the bearing. Now you clean/lube it.
Now: why?
I have not needed to do this... Ever.
And I have owned several CDI furlers.
Number one consideration: toggle at the masthead on the forestay.
Could a bend in the forestay be hindering the furler?

Thanks
Andrew

Thanks for the response Andrew. When you say the forestay "unsrews from the lower shackle" are you saying I should (a) unscrew the turnbuckle, (b) unscrew the anti-rotation strap on the bottom of the furler, or (c) something else? In answer to your question, the furler currently seems to working just fine. I was just hoping that doing the recommended rinsing would help keep it working fine.
Tom

 

[justsomeguy]

Do you have the manual?

https://www.velasailingsupply.com/v/vspfiles/Technical_PDF/CDI/CDI_Flexible_Furler_FF1_manual.pdf

 

[tclC-18]

Yes, I have the manual, but I did not see instructions about how to conveniently expose the bearing to rinse it. Thanks.

 

[agprice22]

It is the antirotation strap. Secure your mast with a halyard or two to make sure you don't drop the mast! Depending on your boat, your lower shrouds, if you have them, may not be positioned to hold the mast up in the event the forestay is unshackled.

The assembly is engineered such that you can rinse it without disassembling it. Spray it down. If you have the ball bearing model, you can try rinsing, but if you still feel it is stiff or sticking, you can disassemble it.

I would just spray it down.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[justsomeguy]

The assembly is engineered such that you can rinse it without disassembling it.

'Nuff said.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

There is no need to disconnect the forestay nor adjust the forestay when maintaining. This design has it's own internal halyard system which the other furlers do not which is why I used this mfg. extensively over the years. First untie and loosen the bottom of the sail where it is tied down to the drum. Raise the sail all the way as far as it will go. Then raise the plastic extrusion on the bottom and secure with vice grips as mentioned but use a cloth so the jaws of the vice grips do not damage the forestay. At this point you can acces the drum housing if necessary or better yet take a garden hose and squirt water into the opening to clean out. The bearings have never been an issue in most cases as this design has it own internal halyard where as the others do not putting more pressure on their bearings as I recall. Folks, I have not worked with them since retirement so do not pounce on me if I am wrong.

 

[tclC-18]

Thanks for responding. Do you think the language you quote means that I can just squirt water into the drum assembly without taking any particular steps to increase access to the bearing?
Tom

 

[tclC-18]

thanks.

 

[agprice22]

Yes. And definitely use the vice grips! Just slide it up, lifting the drum and foil up out of the metal cup. Lock the vice grips on the forestay and rinse the bottom of the black drum that holds the furling line and the metal cup.
Do not let your fingers get caught between the drum and the cup.

 

[tclC-18]

Thanks, Andrew.